Method and system for wrapping a bale

Description

[0001] The invention generally relates to a method and system for wrapping articles with a wrapping apparatus, and more particularly for wrapping a bale formed in a press, transferring the bale to a wrapping position where the bale is wrapped with a film supplied by a wrapping apparatus, and transferring the wrapped bale to a conveyor.

[0002] Bulk quantities of materials like cotton, polyester and other fibres are often formed into bales with a press and the bale is disposed into a package, which prevents the bale from separating during shipping and processing. In the past, one or more generally opaque bags were disposed over the pressed bale to protect the bale from the environment, and then multiple retention straps were applied over the bagged bale with a strapping machine to retain the form of the bale. In one packaging process, a first bag was unfolded over one end of the bale and a second bag was unfolded over an opposing end of the bale so that the first and second bags overlapped each other. The straps were then applied about the overlapping bags to retain the bale and to seal the overlapping bags. Bales packaged in this way however have several disadvantages. The application of one or more bags about a bale was a laborious and expensive procedure. Strapping applied over the bagged bale sometimes damaged the bags and did not always form a good seal between overlapping bags, which subjected the baled material to contamination from moisture and other impurities. The straps applied to the outer side of the bagged bale were also dangerous to remove since energy stored in the straps was released upon cutting the straps, which sometimes resulted in loose end portions of the cut strap snapping away from the bale in the vicinity of personnel. Moreover, after the straps were removed from outside the bags, the bale had a tendency to expand severely and make very difficult the subsequent removal of the bags. The bag itself was an expensive and non-recyclable spun bond woven material that obstructed view of the material within the bag.

[0003] GB-A-2269795 discloses a bale wrapping apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 in which a bale is positioned on a rotatable table and a web is applied to its vertical faces by rotation of the table about a vertical axis. The bale is then rotated 90° about a horizontal axis so that further rotation of the table applies the web to the remaining faces of the bale.

[0004] In a first aspect, the invention consists in a system for wrapping a bale, the system comprising:

a bale wrapping apparatus for applying wrap about a bale in a wrapping position;

a platform for supporting the bale in the wrapping position;

an upender having two laterally movable arms, each arm having a paddle pivotally coupled to a first end portion by a first pivot assembly;

   wherein the arms are laterally movable to engage the paddles with the bale, the upender is movable to raise the bale from the platform, the paddles are pivotable to rotate the raised bale, the upender is movable to lower the rotated bale onto the platform, and the arms are laterally movable to disengage the paddles from the rotated bale;
   characterised in that a rotating arm is positioned above the bale, a downright member extends downwardly from an outward end portion of the rotating arm, and a wrap carriage is movable up and down the downright member,
   wherein the downright member and the wrap carriage orbit the bale in the wrapping position as the rotating arm rotates to apply wrap about the bale.

[0005] In a second aspect, the invention consists in a method for wrapping a bale comprising the steps of:

supporting the bale on a support platform in a first orientation;

positioning the bale on the support platform in a wrapping position relative to a bale wrapping apparatus;

wrapping side portions of the bale with film supplied by the bale wrapping apparatus in a first wrap application;

rotating the bale on the support platform from its first orientation to a second orientation; wrapping side portions of the rotated bale, not wrapped in the first warp application, with film supplied by the bale wrapping apparatus in a second wrap application; and;

moving the wrapped bale from the wrapping position;

   characterised in that the wrapping steps are carried out by rotating an arm positioned above the bale, the rotating arm having a downright member extending downwardly from an outward end portion thereof and a wrap carriage movable up and down the downright member,
   wherein the downright member and the wrap carriage orbit the bale in the wrapping position as the rotating arm rotates to apply wrap about the bale.

[0006] Preferably, the bale wrapping apparatus also includes a bale stabilizer, positioned above the bale in the wrapping position, having a plate extendable toward the bale to contact the bale during application of the wrap about the bale, and retractable away from the bale to permit rotation of the bale.

[0007] Preferably, the upender includes a carriage movable up and down relative to a base. Each arm is pivotally coupled to the carriage by a second pivot assembly to laterally move the paddles toward and away from each other, and each arm is pivotally coupled to the carriage by a third pivot assembly to pivot the arms between a raised position and a lowered position. The upender may include a motor coupled to a drive wheel to move the upender toward and away from the bale. The platform for supporting the bale in the wrapping position is mounted on a dolly translatable between a bale press station wherein a bale is loadable onto the platform, the wrapping position, and a conveyor station wherein the bale is unloaded from the platform.

[0008] Advantages of the invention are that it protects the bale from the environment, reduces material and labour costs, provides improved bale visibility, provides safer strap cutting, and provides easily stored and recyclable packaging waste. Also by applying wrapping over a strapped bale it prevents expansion of the bale before removal of the wrapping, and provides a strap/wrap pattern that is easier to remove from the bale.

[0009] A particular embodiment of a method and apparatus for bale wrapping will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which may be disproportionate for ease of understanding, wherein like structure and steps are referenced by corresponding numerals and indicators, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a partial side view of a bale wrapping system;

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of a bale wrapping system;

Figure 3a is a partial front view of a carriage for an upender;

Figure 3b is a partial front view of a base for an upender;

Figure 3c is a partial front view of a pivot assembly for an upender.

[0010] Figure 1 is a partial side view of a bale wrapping system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The system generally comprises a bale wrapping apparatus 100 for applying wrap about a bale B, a platform 200 for supporting a bale in a wrapping position, and an upender 300 for rotating the bale at the wrapping position to permit application of wrapping on all sides of the rotated bale. In one embodiment, the platform is mounted on a dolly that delivers an unwrapped bale to the wrapping position for wrapping, and later removes the wrapped bale from the wrapping position to make room for the next unwrapped bale. The platform 200 may also be pivotally coupled to a dolly such as that disclosed in EP-A-0798161. The platform on this dolly is actuatable to an inclined position for loading a bale onto the platform, and the platform is lowered downwardly onto the dolly under the weight of the bale loaded or doffed onto the platform. A platform damping means applies a progressively increasing resistance to the platform as the platform is lowered onto the dolly to reduce any impact on the bale as the bale is doffed onto the inclined platform and as the platform is lowered onto the dolly.

[0011] Figure 2 is a partial plan view of an another exemplary embodiment including a bale station 400 for loading unwrapped bales onto the platform of the dolly, and a conveyor station 500 for unloading wrapped bales from the platform of the dolly wherein a single dolly is translatable back and forth between the bale station, the wrapping position and the conveyor station. Figure 2 shows an embodiment wherein the dolly is motor driven along a rail type track T between the stations and the wrapping position. The dolly may include sensors 210, like metal sensors, that cooperate with metal flags 220 located along the track for detecting the position of the dolly relative to the tracks T as shown in Figure 1. A photo cell may alternatively be used for some applications. A series of one or more flags 220 may be located proximate the bale station 400, the wrap station below the bale apparatus 200, and the conveyor station 500 are usable to generate signals as the dolly moves over the flags 220 to indicate location of the dolly and to increase and decrease the speed of the dolly, to stop movement of the dolly, and to raise the platform as the dolly approaches the bale station. In one embodiment, operation of the dolly is controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC). In an alternative embodiment, several dollies operate around a circuit delivering unwrapped bales from the bale station to the wrapping position, and removing the wrapped bales to the conveyor station. The bales are generally pressed and secured with strapping at the bale station wherein the strapped bale is transferred either directly or indirectly onto the dolly. In other embodiments, however, the bale may be first wrapped before application of the strapping.

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 include side and plan views, respectively, of a wrapping apparatus of the type usable with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which in one embodiment is a Cobra™ spiral film wrapping machine available from ITW Mima, an Illinois Tool Works Company, Boca Raton, Florida. Other wrapping machines however like the Ringmaster™ horizontal wrapping ring machine available from Signode, an Illinois Tool Works Company, Glenview, Illinois, may also be used with the wrapping system of the present invention. The bale wrapping apparatus generally includes an arm 110 rotatably coupled by a shaft 124 to a rotary drive member, like a variable speed motor not shown in the drawing, mounted and housed in a main frame 120 mounted over the bale wrapping position. The main frame 120 is generally supported by a ground based support frame, not shown in the drawing, or alternatively is suspended from the ceiling or mounted on a wall. A downright member 130 downwardly extends from an outward end portion 112 of the rotating arm and supports a wrap carriage 140 that is translatable up and down the downright member 130. The wrap carriage 140 includes a roll of film, which may be a transparent stretch wrap type film, that is supplied under tension as the wrap carriage orbits the bale B. In one embodiment, the film is maintained at a constant tension by a drag brake coupled to feed a roller over which the film passes. As the arm rotates about the shaft 124, the downright member 130 and wrap carriage 140 orbit about the bale B supported the platform 200 in the wrapping position, and the film is fed from the wrap carriage and applied about the bale. The wrap carriage 140 generally begins at a lower position on the downright 130 and moves upward as the wrap carriage orbits the bail B to spiral wrap the bale with the film and returns downward toward the bottom of the downright upon completion of the wrapping process wherein the film is cut and a tail end of the film is adhered to the bale as further discussed below. A PLC may be used to provide integrated control of the dolly and the bale wrapping apparatus based on sensors that detect the angular position and rotation rate of the rotatable arm 112 and the position of the wrapping carriage 140 along the downright 130 among other sensory input.

[0013] The wrapping apparatus 100 includes a wrap sealing apparatus 150 with a main carriage 152 mounted on the floor, which is translatable with a drive motor toward and away from the wrapping position in the direction of arrows U_T and U_A along rails or other guide structure. An intermediate carriage 160 is pivotally mounted along axis A to a pivot support pivotally mounted along axis B to the main carriage 152. The intermediate carriage 160 is movable in the directions of arrows U_T and U_A between a lowered position and a first upright position by a first pneumatic or hydraulic actuator. Figure 1 shows a portion of the intermediate carriage 160 in the first upright position. The intermediate carriage includes a wrap clamp 162 for clamping a tail of the film, one or more heat sealing pads 164 for heat sealing a tail portion of the film to the bale, and a film cutter, like a hot wire, 166 for cutting the tail portion of the film. The intermediate carriage 160 is pivotal farther upward by a second pneumatic or hydraulic actuator to a second upright position wherein the heat pads 164 are raised to a level permitting the contact with the bale. In operation, the film tail initially is retained by the wrap clamp 162 and the main carriage is advanced toward the bale in the wrapping position where the intermediate carriage is pivoted upright substantially as shown in Figure 1. After the wrapping carriage 140 of the wrapping apparatus rotates about the bale, beginning from the position shown in Figure 1, and overlaps an end portion of the film held by the clamp 162, the clamp 162 releases the film tail and the intermediate carriage is pivoted back to the lowered position. After wrapping of the bale is complete, the intermediate carriage is pivoted to the second raised position and the main carriage is moved toward the bale to seal the film to the bale with the heat pads 164. The heat pad are mounted on springs with sensors that indicate that the heat pad is in contact with the bale. The clamp 162 clamps the film at a point between the bale and the wrap carriage 140 and the cutter 166 cuts the film. The intermediate carriage then returns to the lowered position and the carriage may move away from the wrapping position ready for the next bale. Sensors mounted on the main carriage are usable to locate and control the position of the wrap sealing apparatus relative to the wrapping position under PLC control as discussed above. A PLC may also be used to provide integrated control of the dolly and the bale wrapping apparatus and wrap sealing apparatus, which actuates the drive motor, the first and second pivot actuators, the heat pads, film clamp and film cutter.

[0014] The wrapping apparatus 100 also includes a bale stabilizer 170 having one or more downwardly extendable and retractable arms 172 coupled plate 174, which is rotatable relative to the rotatable arm 110. The bale stabilizer is positioned over the wrapping position and the arms 172 are downwardly extendable to position the plate 174 into stabilizing contact with the bale, which prevents the bale from tipping during application of the wrap. The freely rotatable plate positioned on the fixed bale permits rotation of the wrapping apparatus arm 110, and the plate is retractable from contact with the bale after application of the wrap. The arms are extendable and retractable by actuatable air cylinders, which may be controlled by a PLC. Not all bales positioned in the wrapping station require stabilization, and in one embodiment only bales in an upright position shown in Figure 1 are stabilized by the bale stabilizer 170.

[0015] The upender 300 includes two arms 310 with a corresponding paddle 320 pivotally coupled to a first end portion of each respective arm by a corresponding first pivot assembly that includes a first cylinder 322 for pivoting the paddles about a pin or axis 324. The arms are laterally movable to engage and disengage the paddles with a bale, and the upender is movable to raise and lower the bale engaged by the paddles to permit pivoting of the paddles to rotate the engaged bale. The upender 300 is also movable clear of the wrapping apparatus to permit wrapping of the bale after rotation of the bale.

[0016] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3a, a second portion of each arm is pivotally coupled to a carriage 330 by an interconnecting second pivot assembly wherein the arms 310 are laterally movable about an axis 352 to move the paddles 320 toward and away from each other. The second pivot assembly includes an actuatable pivoting member 350 shown in Figure 3c and a second cylinder 354, which permits the arms 310 to laterally pivot about an axis 352 shown in Figures 2, 3a and 3c. Figure 2 shows an embodiment wherein the paddles 320 are pivotally mounted about an axis 322 on the arms and retained in a biased position by springs 324. The pivotal paddles compensate for variation in the shape of the bale to increase contact surface area between the paddles and the bale. Each arm is also pivotally coupled to the carriage 330 by a interconnecting third pivot assembly wherein the arms are pivotable about an axis 356 in the direction of arrows W_D and W_U between a raised position and a lowered position. Figure 2 show in part the paddle 320 in the raised position. The third interconnecting pivot assembly includes the actuatable pivoting member 350 shown in

[0017] Figure 3c and a third cylinder 358, which permits the arms 310 to pivot about the axis 356 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3c. In the exemplary embodiment, the raised position and the lowered position are substantially horizontal and vertical positions, respectively for moving the arms clear of the bale wrapping apparatus 100 while applying film to the bale. The cylinders may be pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, and in the exemplary embodiment the first cylinder 322 is an air cylinder, and the second cylinder 354 and third cylinder 358 are hydraulic cylinders. Each pair of hydraulic cylinders 354 and 358 includes a flow divider valve, which has a slight amount of leakage, to ensure that the respective pairs of cylinders move together. Sensors 301 mounted on the upender are usable to detect the position of the arms and paddles, and to provide signals to a PLC for controlling the actuatable cylinders.

[0018] Figures 3b and 3c show the carriage 330 movably mounted up and down relative to a base 340 of the upender. The base includes uprights 342 with tracks that receive and guide wheels 332 or other sliding members mounted on the carriage 330, which in the exemplary embodiment is a first hydraulic cylinder. The carriage is movable by one or more actuatable cylinders 344 interconnecting the carriage and the base for moving the arms 310 up and down with the carriage. The cylinders 344 have end portions 345 coupled to corresponding mounts 333 on the carriage. Figure 2 shows the base having forward extending support legs 343 with rotatable members 345 movable along a rail type track 347 shown in Figure 3b. The base also includes a motor 346, which in one embodiment is a hydraulic motor, coupled to a drive wheel 348 to move the upender in the directions of arrows X_T and X_A toward and away from the bale. A proportional valve may be coupled to the hydraulic drive motor 346 to permit smooth ramping up and down of the motor speed. Sensors 349 mounted on the base are usable to detect flags on the rails or floor to determine the position of the upender relative to the bale wrapping position, and to provide signals to a PLC that controls the drive motor 346. In an alternative embodiment, the upender is fixedly positioned relative to the wrapping apparatus and the upwardly pivotal arms alone move the upender clear of the wrapping apparatus during the bale wrapping process.

[0019] The conveyor station 500 includes a pair of inclined rotatable conveyor tracks or belts 510 each having a lower front end portion 512 and a raised rear end portion 514. The lower front end portions 512 are positioned below the platform 200 of the dolly so that the end portions of the bale extending over sides of the platform are positioned over and onto the rotating belts of the conveyor station as the dolly approaches the conveyor station. The rotating belts then transfer the bale from the platform of the dolly and to another conveyor or loading dock so that another bale may be loaded onto the dolly at the bale station. The platform may include a sensor for generating a signal that indicates when the bale is loaded onto and unloaded from the platform 200.

[0020] In one mode of operation, the bale is supported on the support platform 200 in a first orientation, and the platform is positioned in the wrapping position relative to a bale wrapping apparatus where the wrapping apparatus applies film or wrap material to the side portions of the bale as discussed above. The bale is then rotated on the support platform from the first orientation to a second orientation for wrapping side portions of the rotated bale not wrapped in the first wrap application. The wrap carriage 140 is located toward the bottom of the downright 130 to facilitate rotation of the partially wrapped bale from the first configuration to the second configuration. After the sides of the bale are wrapped, the bale is moved from the wrapping position. The unwrapped bale is first secured with retention straps before positioning at the wrapping position, but may alternatively be secured with straps after application of the wrap. The bale may be stabilized by the bale stabilizer in either or both the first orientation and the second bale orientation, which may depend on the proportions of the bale. In other operations, stabilization may not be required. The bale in the second orientation may again be rotated back to the first orientation before moving the bale from the wrapping position

[0021] The bale is rotated by positioning the arms of the upender on opposing sides of the bale. In one operation, the upender 300 is first moved from an initial or home position clear of the wrapping apparatus 100 toward the bale B in the wrapping position in the direction of arrow X_T by the drive motor wherein the arms 310 of the upender initially are in the raised position as shown in Figure 1. As the upender moves toward the bale, or after the upender is positioned proximate the bale, the raised arms are lowered in the direction of arrow W_D toward the bale to position the paddles 320 on opposing sides of the bale. The lowered arms are then laterally pivoted inward toward the bale to engage the paddles 320 with opposing sides of the bale. In one operation, the arms are laterally moved by the cylinders 354, which are actuated for a specified time under PLC control, to ensure that the bale is fully clamped. After clamping, the upender raises the clamped bale from the platform 200 by raising the carriage 330 coupled to the arms 310 until the bale is sufficiently clear of the platform to permit rotation. The raised bale is then rotated 90 degrees by pivoting the paddles, after which the carriage and arms 310 are lowered to position the bale in the wrapping position on the platform. The arms are laterally moved away from the bale to disengage the paddles from the bale, and the upender is moved clear of the bale in the direction of arrow X_A and the arms are raised upward in the direction of arrow W_U to permit wrapping or movement of the bale from the wrapping position. When the bale is in an upright position wherein one dimension of the bale is greater than the other, it may be advantageous to initially orient or pivot the paddles so that the long dimension of the paddles coincides with the long dimension of the bale.

[0022] In the exemplary system of Figure 2, the bale is loaded onto the platform dolly at the bale station 400 and the dolly is translated along the rails to the wrapping station where it is wrapped as discussed above. The wrapped bale is then transferred to the conveyor station 500 on the dolly where the bale is unloaded from the platform 200 onto the conveyor belts 510. The dolly and empty platform are then translated back over to the bale station 400 where another bale is loaded onto the platform.

Claims

1. A system for wrapping a bale (B), the system comprising:

a bale wrapping apparatus (100) for applying wrap about a bale (B) in a wrapping position;

a platform (200) for supporting the bale (B) in the wrapping position;

an upender (300) having two laterally movable arms (310), each arm having a paddle (320) pivotally coupled to a first end portion by a first pivot assembly;

   wherein the arms (310) are laterally movable to engage the paddles (320) with the bale (B), the upender is movable to raise the bale (B) from the platform (200), the paddles (320) are pivotable to rotate the raised bale (B), the upender (300) is movable to lower the rotated bale (B) onto the platform (200), and the arms (310) are laterally movable to disengage the paddles (320) from the rotated bale (B);
   characterised in that a rotating arm (110) is positioned above the bale (B), a downright member (130) extends downwardly from an outward end portion (112) of the rotating arm (110), and a wrap carriage (140) is movable up and down the downright member (13),
   wherein the downright member (130) and the wrap carriage (140) orbit the bale (B) in the wrapping position as the rotating arm (110) rotates to apply wrap about the bale (B).

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the upender (300) includes a base (330) and a carriage (340) movable up and down relative to the base (330), each arm having a second end portion pivotally coupled to the carriage (340) by a second pivot assembly wherein the paddles (320) are laterally movable toward and away from each other, and each arm (310) is pivotally coupled to the carriage (340) by a third pivot assembly wherein the arms (310) are pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the upender (300) includes a motor (346) coupled to a drive wheel (348) to move the upender (300) toward and away from the bale (B), a first hydraulic cylinder (344) interconnecting the carriage (340) and the base (330) for moving the carriage (340) up and down, each first pivot assembly includes a first air cylinder (322) for pivoting the paddle (320), each second pivot assembly includes a second hydraulic cylinder (354) for laterally moving the paddles (320) toward and away from each other, and each third pivot assembly includes a third hydraulic cylinder (358) for pivoting the arms (310) between the raised position and the lowered position.

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bale wrapping apparatus includes a bale stabilizer (170) positioned above the bale (B) in the wrapping position, the bale stabilizer (170) including a plate (174) extendable toward the bale (B) to contact the bale during application of the wrap about the bale (B), the bale stabilizer being retractable away from the bale (B) to permit rotation of the bale (B).

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bale press station (400) and a conveyor station (500), wherein the platform (200) for supporting the bale (B) in the wrapping position is mounted on a dolly (210, 220) translatable between the bale press station (400), the wrapping position and the conveyor station (500), wherein a bale (B) is loadable onto the platform (200) at the bale press station (400) and the wrapped bale (B) is unloadable from the platform (200) at the conveyor station (500).

6. A method for wrapping a bale (B) comprising the steps of:

supporting the bale (B) on a support platform (200) in a first orientation;

positioning the bale (B) on the support platform (200) in a wrapping position relative to a bale wrapping apparatus (100);

wrapping side portions of the bale (B) with film supplied by the bale wrapping apparatus (100) in a first wrap application;

rotating the bale (B) on the support platform (200) from its first orientation to a second orientation;

wrapping side portions of the rotated bale (B), not wrapped in the first wrap application, with film supplied by the bale wrapping apparatus (100) in a second wrap application; and;

moving the wrapped bale (B) from the wrapping position;

   characterised in that the wrapping steps are carried out by rotating an arm (110) positioned above the bale (B), the rotating arm (110) having a downright member (130) extending downwardly from an outward end portion (112) thereof and a wrap carriage (140) movable up and down the downright member (13),
   wherein the downright member (130) and the wrap carriage (140) orbit the bale (B) in the wrapping position as the rotating arm (110) rotates to apply wrap about the bale (B).

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the bale (B) is secured with retention straps before being positioned at the wrapping position, the method further comprising the steps of:

stabilizing the bale (B) in the first or second orientations while applying film about the bale; and,

rotating the bale (B) from the second orientation back to the first orientation before moving the bale from the wrapping position.

8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the step of rotating the bale includes the steps of:

engaging opposing side portions of the bale (B) with paddles (320) pivotally disposed on respective arms (310);

raising the arms (310) to raise the engaged bale (B) above the platform (200);

pivoting the paddles (320) engaging the bale (B) to rotate the bale;

lowering the rotated bale (B) onto the platform (200); and,

moving the arms (310) clear of the bale (B) to permit wrapping of the bale (B).

9. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the bale is secured with retention straps before positioning at the wrapping position, the method further comprising the steps of:

loading the strapped bale onto the platform (200) at a bale press station (400);

positioning the bale (B) loaded onto the platform (200) at the wrapping position with a dolly (220, 230);

rotating the bale (B) from the second orientation back to the first orientation after wrapping side portions of the rotated bale not wrapped in the first wrap application;

moving the wrapped bale (B) from the wrapping position to a conveyor station (500) with the dolly (220, 230); and,

unloading the bale (B) from the platform (200) at the conveyor station (500).

Ansprüche

1. System zum Umhüllen eines Ballens (B), wobei das System umfaßt:

eine Ballenverpackungsvorrichtung (100) zum Aufbringen von Verpackungsmaterial um einen Ballen (B) in einer Verpackungsposition;

eine Plattform (200) zum Tragen des Ballens (B) in der Verpackungsposition;

eine Kippvorrichtung (300) mit zwei seitlich bewegbaren Armen (310), wobei jeder Arm eine Schaufel (320) aufweist, die durch eine erste Drehvorrichtung mit einem ersten Endabschnitt drehbar verbunden ist;

wobei die Arme (310) seitlich bewegbar sind, um den Ballen (B) mit den Schaufeln (320) zu greifen, die Kippvorrichtung bewegbar ist, um den Ballen (B) von der Plattform (200) zu heben, die Schaufeln (320) drehbar sind, um den gehobenen Ballen (B) zu drehen, die Kippvorrichtung (300) bewegbar ist, um den gedrehten Ballen (B) auf die Plattform (200) abzusenken, und die Arme (310) seitlich bewegbar sind, um die Schaufeln (320) vom gedrehten Ballen (B) zu lösen;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Dreharm (110) über dem Ballen (B) angeordnet ist, ein direkt nach unten abstehendes Element (130) von einem äußeren Endabschnitt (112) des Dreharmes (110) nach unten verläuft und ein Wickelschlitten (140) am vorstehenden Element (13) auf und ab bewegbar ist,
wobei das nach unten abstehende Element (130) und der Wickelschlitten (140) den Ballen (B) in der Verpackungsposition umlaufen, wenn der Dreharm (110) sich dreht, um Verpackungsmaterial um den Ballen (B) herumzuwickeln.

2. System nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Kippvorrichtung (300) eine Basis (330) und einen Schlitten (340) umfaßt, der relativ zur Basis (330) auf und ab bewegbar ist, wobei jeder Arm einen zweiten Endabschnitt aufweist, der durch eine zweite Drehvorrichtung mit dem Schlitten (340) drehbar verbunden ist, wobei die Schaufeln (320) zueinander hin und voneinander weg seitlich bewegbar sind, und jeder Arm (310) durch eine dritte Drehvorrichtung mit dem Schlitten (340) drehbar verbunden ist, wobei die Arme (310) zwischen einer gehobenen Position und einer gesenkten Position drehbar sind.

3. System nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Kippvorrichtung (300) einen Motor (346) aufweist, der mit einem Antriebsrad (348) gekoppelt ist, um die Kippvorrichtung (300) zum Ballen (B) hin und von diesem weg zu bewegen, wobei ein erster Hydraulikzylinder (344) den Schlitten (340) und die Basis (330) miteinander verbindet, um den Schlitten (340) auf und ab zu bewegen, jede erste Drehvorrichtung einen ersten Druckluftzylinder (322) umfaßt, um die Schaufel (320) zu drehen, jede zweite Drehvorrichtung einen zweiten Hydraulikzylinder (354) umfaßt, um die Schaufeln (320) zueinander hin und voneinander weg seitlich zu bewegen, und jede dritte Drehvorrichtung einen dritten Hydraulikzylinder (358) umfaßt, um die Arme (310) zwischen der gehobenen Position und der gesenkten Position zu drehen.

4. System nach irgend einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Ballenverpackungsvorrichtung einen Ballenstabilisator (170) aufweist, der über dem Ballen (B) in der Verpackungsposition angeordnet ist, wobei der Ballenstabilisator (170) eine Platte (174) umfaßt, die zum Ballen (B) hin ausfahrbar ist, um während des Aufbringens des Verpackungsmaterials um den Ballen (B) mit dem Ballen in Kontakt zu sein, wobei der Ballenstabilisator vom Ballen (B) weg einziehbar ist, um die Drehung des Ballens (B) zuzulassen.

5. System nach mindestens einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner enthaltend eine Ballenpreßstation (400). und eine Förderstation (500), wobei eine Plattform (200) zum Tragen des Ballens (B) in der Verpackungsposition auf einem Wagen (210,220) angeordnet ist, der zwischen der Ballenpreßstation (400), der Verpackungsposition und der Förderstation (500) verfahrbar ist, wobei ein Ballen (B) an der Ballenpreßstation (400) auf die Plattform (200) ladbar ist und der verpackte Ballen (B) an der Förderstation (500) von der Plattform (200) entladbar ist.

6. Verfahren zum Verpacken eines Ballens (B), umfassend die folgenden Schritte:

Tragen des Ballens (B) in einer ersten Ausrichtung auf einer Tragplattform (200);

Anordnen des Ballens (B) auf der Tragplattform (200) in eine Verpackungsposition relativ zu einer Ballenverpackungsvorrichtung (100);

Umwickeln von Seitenabschnitten des Ballens (B) mit Folie, welche von der Ballenverpackungsvorrichtung (100) bei der ersten Aufbringung von Verpackungsmaterial zugeführt wird;

Drehen des Ballens (B) auf der Tragplattform (200) von seiner ersten Ausrichtung in eine zweite Ausrichtung;

Umwickeln von Seitenabschnitten des gedrehten Ballens (B), die bei der ersten Aufbringung von Verpackungsmaterial nicht umwickelt wurden, mit Verpackungsmaterial, das von der Ballenverpackungsvorrichtung (100) bei einer zweiten Aufbringung von Verpackungsmaterial zugeführt wird; und

Räumen des verpackten Ballens (B) von der Verpackungsposition;

dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Wickelschritte durch Drehen eines Armes (110) durchgeführt werden, der über dem Ballen (B) angeordnet ist, wobei der Dreharm (110) ein direkt nach unten abstehendes Element (130) aufweist, das von seinem äußeren Endabschnitt (112) nach unten verläuft, und einen Wickelschlitten (140), der am stehenden Element (13) auf und ab bewegbar ist,
wobei das stehende Element (130) und der Wickelschlitten (140) den Ballen (B) in der Verpackungsposition umlaufen, wenn der Dreharm (110) sich dreht, um Verpackungsmaterial um den Ballen (B) anzubringen.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Ballen (B) mit Haltebändern gesichert wird, bevor er in der Verpackungsposition angeordnet wird, wobei das Verfahren außerdem die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:

Stabilisieren des Ballens (B) in der ersten oder zweiten Ausrichtung, während Folie um den Ballen angebracht wird; und

Zurückdrehen des Ballens (B) von der zweiten Ausrichtung in die erste Ausrichtung, bevor der Ballen von der Verpackungsposition weggeräumt wird.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, wobei der Schritt des Drehens des Ballens die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:

Greifen entgegengesetzter Seitenabschnitte des Ballens (B) mit Schaufeln (320), die an jeweiligen Armen (310) drehbar angeordnet sind;

Heben der Arme (310), um den gegriffenen Ballen (B) über die Plattform (200) zu heben;

Drehen der Schaufeln (320), die den Ballen (B) greifen, um den Ballen zu drehen;

Absenken des gedrehten Ballens (B) auf die Plattform (200); und

Bewegen der Arme (310) von Ballen (B) um das Umwickeln des Ballens (B) zuzulassen.

9. Verfahren nach irgend einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 8, wobei der Ballen mit Haltebändern gesichert wird, bevor er in der Verpackungsposition angeordnet wird, wobei das Verfahren außerdem die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:

Laden des gesicherten Ballens (B) auf die Plattform (200) an der Ballenpreßstation (400);

Anordnen des auf die Plattform (200) geladenen Ballens (B) an der Verpackungsposition mit einem Wagen (220,230);

Zurückdrehen des Ballens (B) aus der zweiten Ausrichtung in die erste Ausrichtung, nach dem Umwickeln der Seitenabschnitte des gedrehten Ballens, die bei der ersten Aufbringung von Verpackungsmaterial nicht umwickelt wurden;

Bewegen des verpackten Ballens (B) von der Verpackungsposition zu einer Förderstation (500) mit dem Wagen (220,230); und

Entladen des Ballens (B) von der Plattform (200) an der Förderstation (500).

Revendications

1. Système pour envelopper une balle (B), ce système comprenant :

un appareil d'enveloppement de balles (100) destiné à appliquer une enveloppe autour d'une balle (B) dans une position d'enveloppement,

une plate-forme (200) destinée à supporter la balle (B) en position d'enveloppement,

un dresseur (300) comportant deux bras mobiles latéralement (310), chaque bras comportant une palette (320) couplée avec possibilité de basculement à une première partie d'extrémité par un premier ensemble de basculement,

   dans lequel les bras (310) sont mobiles latéralement pour mettre les palettes (320) en prise avec la balle (B), le dresseur est mobile pour soulever la balle (B) de la plate-forme (200), les palettes (320) peuvent basculer pour tourner la balle (B) soulevée, le dresseur (300) est mobile pour descendre sur la plate-forme (200) la balle (B) tournée, et les bras (310) sont mobiles latéralement pour dégager les palettes (320) de la balle (B) tournée,
   caractérisé par le fait qu'un bras tournant (110) est placé au-dessus de la balle (B), un élément vertical descendant (130) s'étend vers le bas à partir d'une partie d'extrémité extérieure (112) du bras tournant (110), et un chariot d'enveloppement (140) peut monter et descendre sur l'élément vertical descendant (130),
   dans lequel l'élément vertical descendant (130) et le chariot d'enveloppement (140) tournent autour de la balle (B) en position d'enveloppement lorsque le bras tournant (110) tourne pour appliquer l'enveloppe autour de la balle (B).

2. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dresseur (300) comporte une base (330) et un chariot (340) pouvant monter et descendre par rapport à la base (330), chaque bras ayant une deuxième partie d'extrémité couplée avec possibilité de basculement au chariot (340) par un deuxième ensemble de basculement, dans lequel les palettes (320) sont mobiles latéralement de façon à se rapprocher et s'éloigner l'une de l'autre, et chaque bras (310) est couplée avec possibilité de basculement au chariot (340) par un troisième ensemble de pivotement, dans lequel les bras (310) peuvent basculer entre une position levée et une position abaissée.

3. Système selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le dresseur (300) comporte un moteur (346) couplé à une roue motrice (348) pour approcher et éloigner le dresseur (300) de la balle (B), un premier vérin hydraulique (344) reliant le chariot (340) à la base (330) pour faire monter et descendre le chariot (340), chaque premier ensemble de basculement comporte un premier vérin pneumatique (322) pour faire basculer la palette (320), chaque deuxième ensemble de basculement comporte un deuxième vérin hydraulique (354) pour rapprocher et éloigner latéralement les palettes (320) l'une de l'autre, et chaque troisième ensemble de basculement comporte un troisième vérin hydraulique (358) pour basculer les bras (310) entre la position levée et la position abaissée.

4. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'appareil d'enveloppement de balles comporte un stabilisateur de balle (170) placé au-dessus de la balle (B) en position d'enveloppement et comportant une plaque (174) pouvant être mue vers la balle (B) pour être en contact avec celle-ci pendant l'application de l'enveloppe autour de celle-ci, le stabilisateur de balle pouvant être reculé de la balle (B) pour permettre la rotation de celle-ci.

5. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un poste de compression de balles (400) et un poste de transport (500), dans lequel la plate-forme (200) destinée à supporter la balle (B) en position d'enveloppement est montée sur un chariot (210, 220) translatable entre le poste de compression de balles (400), la position d'enveloppement et le poste de transport (500), dans lequel une balle (B) peut être chargée sur la plate-forme (200) au poste de compression de balles (400) et la balle (B) enveloppée peut être déchargée de la plate-forme (200) au poste de transport (500).

6. Procédé d'enveloppement d'une balle (B) comprenant les étapes de :

pose de la balle (B) sur une plate-forme de support (200) dans une première orientation,

mise de la balle (B) sur la plate-forme de support (200) dans une position d'enveloppement par rapport à un appareil d'enveloppement de balles (100),

enveloppement de parties latérales de la balle (B) par du film fourni par l'appareil d'enveloppement de balles (100) dans une première application d'enveloppe,

rotation de la balle (B) sur la plate-forme de support (200) de sa première orientation à une deuxième orientation,

enveloppement de parties latérales de la balle (B) tournée non enveloppées dans la première application d'enveloppe, avec du film fourni par l'appareil d'enveloppement de balles (100) dans une deuxième application d'enveloppe, et

écartement de la balle (B) enveloppée de la position d'enveloppement,

   caractérisé par le fait que les étapes d'enveloppement sont exécutées par rotation d'un bras (110) placé au-dessus de la balle (B), ce bras tournant (110) ayant un élément vertical descendant (130) s'étendant vers le bas à partir d'une partie d'extrémité extérieure (112) de celui-ci et un chariot d'enveloppement (140) pouvant monter et descendre sur l'élément vertical descendant (130),
   dans lequel l'élément vertical descendant (130) et le chariot d'enveloppement (140) tournent autour de la balle (B) en position d'enveloppement lorsque le bras tournant (110) tourne pour appliquer l'enveloppe autour de la balle (B).

7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel la balle (B) est, avant d'être mise en position d'enveloppement, fixée par des courroies de retenue, le procédé comprenant en outre les étapes de :

stabilisation de la balle (B) dans sa première ou sa deuxième orientation pendant l'application de film autour de celle-ci, et

rotation de la balle (B) pour la ramener de sa deuxième orientation à sa première orientation avant de l'écarter de sa position d'enveloppement.

8. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 6 et 7, dans lequel l'étape de rotation de la balle comporte les étapes de :

mise en prise de parties latérales opposées de la balle (B) avec des palettes (320) montées basculantes sur des bras respectifs (310),

levage des bras (310) pour lever la balle (B) prise au-dessus de la plate-forme (200),

basculement des palettes (320) en prise avec la balle (B) pour tourner celle-ci,

abaissement de la balle (B) tournée sur la plate-forme (200), et

écartement des bras (310) de la balle (B) pour permettre l'enveloppement de celle-ci.

9. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 6 à 8, dans lequel la balle est, avant d'être mise en position d'enveloppement, fixée par des courroies de retenue, le procédé comprenant en outre les étapes de :

chargement de la balle entourée de courroies sur la plate-forme (200) à un poste de compression de balles (400),

mise de la balle (B) chargée sur la plate-forme (200) dans une position d'enveloppement avec un chariot (220, 230),

rotation de la balle (B) pour la ramener de sa deuxième orientation à sa première orientation après enveloppement de parties latérales de la balle tournée non enveloppées dans la première application d'enveloppe,

déplacement de la balle (B) enveloppée de sa position d'enveloppement à un poste de transport (500) avec le chariot (220, 230), et

déchargement de la balle (B) de la plate-forme (200) au poste de transport (500).

Drawing